AUSTEREO management has been shamed into pulling an offensive interview from its Triple M Adelaide breakfast show after News Limited revealed one of its presenters had called MasterChef: The Professionals host Marco Pierre White a "rude prick".

Dale 'Louie' Lewis and co-hosts Ali Carle, Warren Tredrea and Jon 'Blakey' Blake were banned from playing the controversial audio this morning.

But the hosts were allowed to discuss the controversial exchange, pre-recorded yesterday, in which Lewis insulted White about his three marriages and famed temper.

Listen to the audio in the video player above

Lewis, a former Sydney Swans AFL player, was taught a lesson in manners he's not likely to forget by the White Heat chef - in a clash which has garnered overwhelming support for the kitchen king.

White had been a congenial guest until the final minutes of the interview yesterday, recording the chat while he was in Austereo's Melbourne studios and the new breakfast crew were preparing the segment for their struggling SA radio show.

An overly familiar Lewis raised the question of White's three failed marriages, asking whether his "first wives" had been "dismissed, for want of a better word, cause they can't cook, or didn't like your cooking?"

Adding salt to the wound, Lewis quipped: "cos if you're the rude prick you come across on TV ... I wouldn't be there long either."

A clearly rattled White tried to play down the marriage dig, but cut Lewis short when he used offensive language.

He ended the interview, telling Lewis there was "no need for rudeness'' before accepting the humbled presenter's apology.

"Rudeness is not having fun when it is at the expense of another person. You're a very rude man. And I hope your mother's not listening to this show today because she would not be proud of her son.''

White said later he was deeply offended by the remarks.

"To be honest, I was a bit off balance when it was said to me and I thought why should people get away with this? Why should they be allowed to bully people? It's why I said what I said.''

"What's very sad is this is a radio show where children could be listening and to use that sort of language in front of children is wholly inappropriate.''

If it was for comedy purposes, White said "it was scurrilous behaviour.''

"This is my third time in Australia in eight months and this is the first time anyone has shown me rudeness or disrespect. I just excused myself and left.''

White said Austereo, still cowering from the royal prank scandal, "lacked sensitivity and regard for others".

"To expose listeners and especially children to that kind of language leaves a lot to be desired. I'm not saying I've been a good boy all my life but you get to a stage in your life where you've just got to be corrected. It's called growing up."

Was Lewis out of line? Is there too much bad language and offensive behaviour on radio? Share your opinions in the comment box below.

WHAT THEY SAID:

DALE LEWIS: Hey mate, married three times, was (sic) the first wives dismissed, for want of a better word, cause they can't cook, or didn't like your cooking? Is that an issue with them?

(Female host giggles)

MARCO: I just think of myself as being a lucky man that I found three women who wanted to marry me.

(More laughing by hosts)

LEWIS: Yeah, cos if you're the rude prick you come across on TV, I wouldn't be there long either. That's just me surmising what I've seen on TV

ALI CARLE: Marco, I wouldn't stand for that

MARCO: All you're doing is giving me insight into you as a person.

LEWIS: (laughing) Now he's analysing me

CARLE: (laughing) He's reading you

LEWIS: He can cook and he's a psychoanalyst

CARLE: Like a book, Marco. Now, you said

MARCO: There's no need for rudeness

LEWIS: No, no, no it was just

MARCO: I think you should say good morning to me, and good bye, because one, I take offense to being called that. I haven't shown you disrespect, I haven't been rude to you. I don't like being called that word. I'm very sorry.

LEWIS: Well, I apologise Marco. I was just trying to have some fun.

MARCO: Your apology is accepted. Rudeness is not having fun when it is at the expense of another person. You're a very rude man. And I hope your mother's not listening to this show today because she would not be proud of her son. Have a nice day, bye bye.

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Comments on this story

Kathleen Kelly Posted at 10:16 AM January 18, 2013

Well done Mr White. I believe those comments and jibes are a result not only of rudeness but ignorance and a lack of education too. After all the male presented didn't even speak good English and nobody had a jibe at that!

Cabiria Posted at 8:56 AM January 18, 2013

They thought they were being hilarious ... to whom... morons? Getting tired of people getting away with being rude and offensive by dismissing it with "it's only a joke". They say their rudeness was a joke to escape taking responsibility.

Someone of Somewhere Posted at 8:51 AM January 17, 2013

Luke, comment 28 of 50; while I agree with your comment, I disagree on one point. This is not "becoming ingrained in our culture" to pick on people and pass it off as a joke, this has always been a part of Australian culture and I think it is shameful. I immigrated here (from NZ) 40 odd years ago and it was prevalent then. It is the only thing that has really irked me about the Australian "psyche" - I do not think it is funny to be (what is essentially) nasty to people and then when "called" on it to try and say that you are being funny. There is nothing funny about saying something hurtful. If you want to say something hurtful then how about "man-ing up" and owning it. As my parents always said - if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all.

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